Herman Goldstein Excellence Problem Oriented Partnership Policing Awards 2009

ReducingReducing GangGang RelatedRelated FirearmsFirearms DischargesDischarges WithinWithin thethe MetropolitanMetropolitan DivisionDivision

OperationOperation CougarCougar OperationOperation CougarCougar

Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton Chief Superintendent Dave Keller Maureen Noble CDRP

November 2009 2 3 HistoryHistory

• has a well known history concerning gang activity and the use of firearms.

• This activity has now spread to parts of Old & .

• There are two main sides to the gang conflict, ‘The Gooch’ & ‘The Doddington.’

• There are many splinter groups all of whom have their own identity, but still align themselves to one of the two main gangs.

4 TheThe ProblemProblem

Metropolitan Trafford Total GMP Division Firearms Division Firearms Firearms Discharges Discharges Discharges

2003 – 2004 54 32 131

2004 – 2005 48 10 114

2005 – 2006 43 9 110

2006 – 2007 39 13 120

2007 – 2008 55 13 146

• 51% of GMP Firearms Discharges (2003–2008). • 40% of GMP Firearms Authorities and Firearms Operations (200 / 500). • Frequent use of Stop Search Powers - Section 60 & 60AA CJ&PO Act 1994 (55/120/68)

5 FirearmsFirearms DischargesDischarges 1/4/071/4/07 –– 31/3/0831/3/08 146 firearms discharges forcewide - A rise of 18%. 42 were gang related.

68 occurred on the Metropolitan & Trafford Divisions.

6 710 unlawful killings 61 involved victim in Greater being shot (8.6%) Manchester

11st AprilApril 20002000 –– 3030th SeptemberSeptember 20092009

623 detected 41 of these detected 87.7%. 67.2%.

7

RecentRecent murdersmurders

• On Saturday 19th January 2008, in a case of mistaken identity, Halton McCollin (19 years) was shot dead in . The intended victim was a Doddington Gang Member.

• On Tuesday 29th January 2008, in a reprisal attack, Louis Braithwaite (15 years), a known Fallowfield Gang Member, was shot dead in South Manchester.

• As a direct consequence, gang tensions and violence increased to such an extent that the Threat Assessment was reviewed and for the first time it its entire history, the gang threat in Manchester was defined as Critical.

• Operation Cougar was born. 9 IntelligenceIntelligence AnalysisAnalysis

• Police Intelligence.

• Partner Intelligence, including:

• Council,

• Children's Services,

• Probation,

• Education,

• Housing,

• MMAGs,

• Social Services 10 AnalysisAnalysis ofof GangsGangs

• Aged between 15 and 20 years.

• Black African descent.

• From one parent families.

• Unemployed or infrequently attend school with no academic aspirations.

• Reside within a two miles radius of Moss Side.

• Involved in Anti Social Behaviour and opportunistic crime (personal robbery and burglary).

• Do not drink alcohol or take ‘hard’ drugs as part of their gang lifestyle. 11

13 Old Trafford Cripz Moss Side Bloods

14 FebruaryFebruary 20082008 OperationOperation CougarCougar

Operation Cougar – Gold Strategy

• Previously, conventional police tactics had a short-term impact. We needed to do something different, we needed to do something more.

• There was a need to establish coordinated strategic and tactical responses from all agencies and communities.

• The Gold Strategy linked the following areas as key themes to be addressed, specifically, effective working relationships across: GMP, Local Authorities (County Government), Partner Agencies, Communities & Media Organisations, which emphasised the need for innovation. 15 Prevent further Safeguard the Murders public

OperationOperation CougarCougar AimsAims && ObjectivesObjectives

Reduce gang related Provide community firearms discharges assurance

Protect vulnerable people

16 Children’s Services MMAGS (Manchester Multi-agency Gang Service)

ManchesterManchester && TraffordTrafford ViolentViolent GangsGangs BoardBoard

Housing Probation

Education

17 OperationOperation CougarCougar TacticsTactics

• Police-led enforcement activity to disrupt, prevent and detect gang criminality.

• Intelligence-led policing of gang areas and persons frequenting them.

• Identification of juveniles potentially vulnerable to gang influence.

18 OperationOperation CougarCougar TacticsTactics

• Use of Emergency Police Protection Orders and Referral of Gang Members.

• Continued Multi-agency risk management of persons and groups at risk.

• Schools interventions.

19 OperationOperation CougarCougar TacticsTactics

• Use of legislation to control those involved in gang related activity.

• Involvement of local community.

• Multi-agency assessment of potential trigger events.

20 OneOne TeamTeam ApproachApproach ‘Safeguarding‘Safeguarding Children’Children’

• Manchester’s Multi Agency Gang Strategy is centred around safeguarding children and young people and takes a prevention, early intervention and enforcement approach.

• Strong partnership with Police and Council needed to deliver an integrated approach to safeguarding 21 EveryEvery ChildChild MattersMatters -- AllAll ourour ServicesServices FocusedFocused onon 55 OutcomesOutcomes forfor ChildrenChildren • Be Healthy.

• Stay Safe.

• Enjoy and Achieve.

• Make a Positive Contribution.

• Achieve Economic Wellbeing.

22 TwoTwo ImportantImportant ProjectsProjects

• Eight ‘til Late: Recognises the need to intervene early with those on the periphery of gang activity and their siblings using schools as the route for delivery.

• RECLAIM: Supports young adults in focusing their skills and enthusiasm in a positive way.

23 FromFrom UnderstandingUnderstanding toto ActionAction PreventionPrevention inin PracticePractice EightEight ‘til‘til LateLate

25 OneOne toto OneOne SessionsSessions 27 28 RECLAIM’sRECLAIM’s MissionMission

• RECLAIM’s mission is to work with vulnerable young people in areas associated with crime, unemployment or social instability.

• RECLAIM allows young people to aspire beyond recognised stereotypes and to take pride in their communities.

29 30 • Across the 4 days of the RECLAIM conference, all 49 boys were supported by 27 male mentors who acted as role models and helped to guide the young men.

• It’s across the next 6 months of RECLAIM that these mentors will play a crucial role. A detailed programme of activity has been planned to keep the RECLAIM delegates focused, motivated and on track to achieve and be successful ambassadors for their community. 31 32 ResultsResults

33 OperationOperation CougarCougar ResultsResults

Performance Measures Count Operational Deployments 181 Gang Related Firearms Discharges 8 Total Number of Arrests 307 Crime Arrests 214 Public Order Arrests 34 Breach of Licence Arrests 26 Other Arrests 33 Number of Stop Searches 2096 Intelligence Submissions 2237 Disruption of Gang Activity 467 Firearms Recovered 10 Ammunition Recoveries 9 Number of Juveniles Removed from the Street 8 Number of Juveniles EPPO’s 13 Referrals to Children’s Services and MMAGS 43 Warning Letters Served 64 Number of Murders 0 34 CostCost BenefitBenefit AnalysisAnalysis

Police Resource Expenditure against Gun and Gang Crime

£280,335 £300,000

£250,000 £179,116 £200,000

t £121,881 s £150,000 Co

£100,000 £52,257 £37,220 £50,000

£0 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 YTD Year

35 CostCost BenefitBenefit AnalysisAnalysis

Costs of Gang Related Fatal Firearms Discharge Investigations

£7,000,000 £6,000,000

£6,000,000

£5,000,000 s £4,000,000 £3,000,000 £3,000,000 nt de i c £3,000,000 n I

£2,000,000

£1,000,000 £0 £175,256

£0 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 YTD Year

2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 YTD

36 AssessmentAssessment

Total Firearms Discharges and Gang Related Firearms Discharges Across the Metropolitan and Trafford Divisions between 01/04/05 - 30/09/09

80 68 70 52 52 60

50 39 42 s 35 t n e 40 d i c 23 In 30 11 20 8 8 10

0 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 YTD Year

Total Gang Related

37 CommunityCommunity && PartnerPartner PerceptionsPerceptions

• Strong belief in the need and purpose of Cougar. • Clear reasons to initiate Cougar. • Achievements of Cougar have happened because partners worked together effectively. • Speed of progress would not have been possible without partners working together. • All parties involved in Cougar would benefit long-term. • Those involved would be viewed as leading at the cutting-edge and were innovative. • Levels of engagement, trust and confidence have increased between: •Police. • Local Authority. •Community. •Media. 38 CommunityCommunity && PartnerPartner PerceptionsPerceptions • Police activity has been welcomed, including:

• High visibility patrols and enforcement. • Use of Stop Search. • Use of EPPO. • Letters to young persons at risk, their parents and Children’s Services. • Bespoke Risk Assessments of events and individual child cases (MAPPA+). • High profile raids.

• Cougar has created a “space in time” to enable all agencies to intervene effectively.

39 IndependentIndependent EvaluationEvaluation

• Levels of engagement and increased trust with communities, gang members and partner agencies

• “Space in time” – allow agency intervention

• Increased visibility of GMP roles focussing on prevention, anticipation and getting to know community / gang members

• Tactical working practices including local intelligence and multi-agency tasking and co-ordinating

40 FirearmsFirearms DischargesDischarges 1/4/071/4/07 –– 31/3/0831/3/08 146 firearms discharges forcewide - A rise of 18%. 42 were gang related.

68 occurred on the Metropolitan & Trafford Divisions.

41 FirearmsFirearms DischargesDischarges 1/4/081/4/08 –– 31/3/0931/3/09

43% reduction Forcewide.

81% reduction in Gang related discharges. 42 GangGang RelatedRelated FirearmsFirearms DischargesDischarges

Three Year Comparison of Gang Related Discharges

8

7

6 Gang Related Discharges 5

4

3

2

1

0 8 6 7 9 7 8 8 6 7 8 9 6 7 8 9 6 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 t t t b b b n n n n r r r r c c c ug 08 ug 09 ug 06 ug 07 Ju Oc Ju Ju Oc Ju Oc Ap Fe Ap Ap Fe Ap Fe De De De A A A A

14/2/08 - Operation Cougar is launched 43 QuotationsQuotations “Operation Cougar is an excellent example of what can be achieved when people work together. I have no doubt at all that lives have been saved as a result of this ground-breaking operation. There are young people walking the streets of Manchester today who would otherwise be in an early grave. There are parents who have not had to endure the heartbreaking ordeal of grieving for their children. Robust policing and enforcement has played a big part in this operation… But it has all been done with the support of the local community and our partners. Our aim has always been for gun-free streets. We aren’t there yet, but we’re moving in the right direction…”

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable, Police (29/01/2009) 44 QuotationsQuotations

“The progress by GMP and its partners, including the Council, have shown that when efforts are targeted we can make a difference.

The success of Operation Cougar is inspiring progress…evidenced by strong enforcement and working in partnership…it has demonstrated a shift in how we see children…

Other police forces and local authorities can learn the lessons from what has been achieved here.”

Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith MP, Home Secretary (29/01/2009).

45 AnyAny questions?questions?

46 47